forgiveness

noun

for·​give·​ness fər-ˈgiv-nəs 

fȯr-

: the act of forgiving

I ask for your forgiveness.

Synonyms of forgiveness

• amnesty
• pardon

Examples of forgiveness in a Sentence

She treats us with kindness and forgiveness.

they asked her forgiveness for failing to invite her to the party

Recent Examples on the Web

Matarrese delves into the history underlying these two women’s longstanding feud and arrives at a tragicomic, inventive meditation on the metaphysical possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026

At the end of regret-flow plotlines, husbands tend to beg their wives for forgiveness by dropping to their knees. —Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

Years after a violent shooting shattered their Presbyterian church community, an impending deportation forces two Korean-American families to confront the limits of their forgiveness. —Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026

At the same time, recent legislative changes have made federal student loans more restrictive, including fewer repayment options and stricter rules for debt forgiveness. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for forgiveness

• liveness

Kids Definition

forgiveness

noun

for·​give·​ness fər-ˈgiv-nəs 

fȯr-

: the act of forgiving : pardon